Augusta National announces $5 million donation for hurricane relief

The Augusta community’s efforts to rebuild from the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene got a big boost Thursday, courtesy of nearby golf course neighbors.

Augusta National Golf Club and the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) announced a joint donation of $5 million to local relief efforts. This is the latest initiative to help the Augusta area rebuild following the devastation caused by the Category 4 hurricane.

“I was in Augusta a few days after the storm and saw the devastating effects firsthand,” Augusta National President Fred Ridley said in a release announcing the donation. “Our employees, neighbors, friends and business owners need and deserve immediate and significant help to overcome the hardships all of Augusta is experiencing right now.”

Helene blazed a path of destruction across much of the American Southeast, downing dozens of trees, causing intense flooding and leaving millions without power. The Augusta area was at the heart of the storm’s path, and the city faces a long road back after many homes and businesses suffered “catastrophic” damage.

In addition to the $5 million donation, the club, CSRA and the Medical College of Georgia Foundation announced separate contributions to relief efforts currently being conducted by the American Red Cross, including a mobile feeding truck and a recovery center in downtown Augusta.

“Augusta National and the Community Foundation take to heart our responsibility to care for our community,” Ridley said. “Our goal is to make a difference when it’s needed most, and we hope our gift will inspire others to help or ask how they can contribute to this critical mission.”

The money is intended to “provide immediate access to essential services and resources available throughout Augusta,” the release said.

Few organizations in the world of golf have the financial clout to make a $5 million in-kind donation in a single day, but Augusta National is not most organizations. Under Ridley’s tenure, the famed club and Masters host has taken on a more public role in supporting causes aligned with its values ​​in hopes that the club’s public status will help garner additional support for the effort – a strategy Ridley mentioned during his annual “one plus” press conference in April one equals three.”

Helene’s donation is a heartbreaking extension of that strategy as the club and its hometown recover from a storm that left thousands without power.

At a separate news conference earlier this week, Ridley said the club also suffered damage from the hurricane, but the Masters will go on as scheduled next April.